Flora Patsy Hall attended Pine Mountain Settlement School from 1938 until 1943. She was a student who seemed to always hit the high marks and challenged others to do the same. She led by example. In 1944 she wrote the following poem for the student literary journal Pine Cone

TWO PATHS

Always when some part of our life has come to a close.
There is the silent recalling of the past—
Old acquaintances, books, classmates, laughter, sorrow—
All blending to make life;
Some find a joy in seeking out these treasured stores,
Viewing them with soft eyes and glowing faces;
Others dare not look over these fragments of yesterday,
For there is a sadness in knowing
These happy days Will not be lived again.
But I have thought today about the time
When I shall be looking back
At my days spent at Pine Mountain,
Pondering and weighing each part with care,
large and small
Friendships, disappointments, peace, love.
I used to think it would hurt;
Now I know it never will,
For I have had a fleeting look today—
At the path that lies ahead.

It was a path that was, indeed, filled with friendships, peace and love all liberally sprinkled with the lessons she learned at Pine Mountain and felt compelled to share. As President of the PMSS Alumni Association in the 1980’s Pat Hall Martin continued to engage alumni of the School and to bring alumni back to Pine Mountain for reunions. Her years at the School stretched across some of the most important transitional years for the School.

Under Director, Glyn Morris the School moved into a very Progressive educational direction. Not only were students mapped to their abilities, but were encouraged to reach beyond their expectations. Every student was charged with their own progress and for reporting that progress in writing for their families and for the staff at the settlement school.

Patsy, as she was often called by family, wrote vividly of her work and love of the School and her comments are scattered across the literature of the institution. She was a regular attendee of the annual alumni events and helped to organize many of them as a Chair of the Alumni Association. Her school record, her alumni activity and various correspondence are found in FLORA PATSY HALL Correspondence.

Following her graduation from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, a small private liberal arts college just outside Chicago, IL, and additional work for a Master’s in Education, Pat taught school in rural Indiana for the remaining career years. She always had a preference for the Primary grades, and her skills and dedication were recognized by many and carried over into her large extended family. Her five children all had remarkable lives and careers and their children all aimed for the high mark their mothers and grandmother pulled from that early educational push deep in the Kentucky mountains.

And, she never lost her skill to turn out the best chicken and dumplings in her family and to pass that skill along.

GALLERY

“Pat Hall.” Patsy Flora Hall. [bishop_02_013.jpg]

Patsy Hall and David Martin Wedding. Joe Bramlett Album – David and Patsy (Hall) Martin wedding in the PMSS Chapel. Bridesmaid, Fern Hall Hayes to left and Jack Martin, best man, to far right. [bram_-46.jpg]

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